Preliminary Results from the 2015 NMT Interferometer Campaign in Colorado

Abstract:

The New Mexico Tech Broadband Interferometer was deployed within the eastern portion of the Colorado Lightning Mapping Array between May 20 and June 13, 2015. The location was such that the CHILL radar could provide coverage for select storms. The 20 to 80 MHz VHF broadband interferometer was augmented by fast and slow antenna data for discerning both impulsive and overall charge motion. A substantial fraction of the flashes recorded during the Colorado campaign were observed to be inverted intraclouds. This was particularly true of a close tornadic storm on June 6 which was also distinguished by a large number of precursor events. We will detail some illuminative examples from this and other storms. We will also analyze the effect substantially longer baseline lengths and increased sensitivity had on the performance of the interferometer relative to previous campaigns as well as in comparison to the Lightning Mapping Array.